World Cup 2010: Can Americans Root for North Korea?

North Korea will play for what will be one of the World Cup's most stunning victories if they win their first round match against highly favored Brazil today. Everyone loves an underdog, but should the US root for the Koreans?

The answer is simple: Absolutely. 

The important thing to remember about the World Cup, even given its extreme prestige (especially in countries that are not the USA), is that it is a sporting event. In other words, one could employ the classic phrase: "It's just a game."

Sure, using this phrase to describe the World Cup in Spain, Italy or, well, any country that is not the US would probably get you into a fight you could never hope to win.  

But the US has no reason to treat North Korea with the same hatred it displayed against the Soviet Union in the 1980 Olympics. 

Remember that classic "Miracle on Ice" hockey match between USA and the USSR?  Was that "simply sport?" Certainly not.

But this is 2010: The Cold War is over, and the US is not at war with North Korea.

If the North Koreans can pull off one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history (like they did against Italy in 1966), they will give the Americans, also underdogs in the Cup, better chances later in the tournament.

As the 1950 US soccer team (who beat England 1-0 in a shocking upset) can confirm: an upset is a beautiful, beautiful thing.